Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Kilmer is a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|centrist Democratic follower]]" as of July 4, 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400222 ''Gov Track'' "Derek Kilmer," Accessed July 4, 2013]</ref>

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Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Kilmer is a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|centrist Democratic follower]]," as of July 4, 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400222 ''Gov Track'' "Derek Kilmer," Accessed July 4, 2013]</ref>

Biography

Kilmer earned his certificate in American Studies from Princeton University. He went on to earn his B.A. in Public Affairs from Princeton. He then received his M.A. in Economic Development Policy followed by his PhD in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford.

Kilmer is a former business consultant for McKinsey and Company. He currently works as a business retention manager for the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.[3]

Career

The following is an abbreviated list of Kilmer's professional and political career:[4]

1999-2002: Management consultant for McKinsey and Co.

2002-2012: Vice-president of the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County[1]

Issues

Legislative actions

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[6] For more information pertaining to Kilmer's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[7]

National security

NDAA

Kilmer voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[8]

DHS Appropriations

Kilmer voted in opposition of HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[8]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Kilmer voted in support of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[8]

CISPA (2013)

Kilmer voted in support of HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[9] The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[8]

Economy

Government shutdown

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[10] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[11] Kilmer voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[12]

The shutdown finally ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funds the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[13] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Kilmer voted for HR 2775.[14]

On his Facebook page, Kilmer said he would give up his pay "for the duration of a government shutdown. I am dead set against a shutdown because it will have serious effects on our economy and because many people rely on services provided by federal agencies. The fact that some in Congress would risk a shutdown in order to score political points demonstrates why Congress is currently held in lower regard than head lice."[15]

Farm Bill

Kilmer voted against the Farm Bill on July 11, 2013. The bill passed in a 216-208 vote.[16] The bill passed included farm policy, but did not include food stamps.[17]

King Amendment

Kilmer signed a letter sent to Collin Peterson in August 2013, asking him to keep Steve King's amendment out of the final Farm Bill.[18] The "Protect Interstate Commerce Act" amendment prevents states from applying their own laws on agricultural products to agricultural products from another state.[19]. King introduced the amendment in response to a law in California, requiring a larger size cage for egg-producing chickens. King represents Iowa, which is a large egg producer.

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Kilmer voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States.[20] The vote largely followed party lines.[21]

Healthcare

Repealing Obamacare

Kilmer has voted against all attempts to repeal or delay the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[22]

Social issues

Abortion

Kilmer voted against HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196. The purpose of the bill is to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.[23]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Kilmer is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, Kilmer raised a total of $1,873,136 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 5, 2013.[32]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Kilmer missed 0 of 96 roll call votes from January 2013 to April 2013. This amounts to 0.0%, which is better than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of April 2013.[44]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Kilmer's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $233,016 and $721,000. That averages to $477,008, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2011 of $5,107,874.[45]

Voting with party

Derek Kilmer voted with the Democratic Party 92.1% of the time, which ranked 136 among the 201 House Democratic members as of July 2013.[46]

Scorecards

Freedom Foundation

The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator. [47]

2012

Kilmer proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $17 million, tied for the 30th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.[48]

The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[49] A a sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a d sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Kilmer voted on the specific pieces of legislation: